NEWS

Age-Friendly Funding Opportunity Round-up

Apr 4, 2018

Proof of momentum in the Age-Friendly movement can be seen with new communities joining the network of cities and towns, but also with the funding opportunities that advance not only local efforts, but also the broader healthy aging work of stakeholders.

The Healthy Aging Collaborative hopes the following three funding programs will be the first in a new periodic series that raises awareness about funding support for Age-Friendly activities.

  • CTAA announces the availability of funding for inclusive planning projects

The Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA) along with its partners the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging and the Institute for Community Inclusion of the University of Massachusetts-Boston is pleased to announce the availability of a new round of funding for local inclusive planning projects.

As transportation remains a significant challenge for older adults and people with disabilities in Massachusetts, the Executive Office of Elder Affairs and MHAC strongly supports the application of a Massachusetts community or region for this grant.  The proposal is due on May 4, but it is relatively short (8 pages).  The award amount is up to $35,000 for six months, with the possibility of additional funding in 2019.

If you decide to apply, please contact Adam Frank at adam.frank@state.ma.us or (617) 222-7428 to discuss how EOEA can be of assistance in your application.

The new projects are expected to adopt inclusive strategies that fit their communities and build upon learning from previous projects. It is anticipated that the experience from these grants will add to the knowledge garnered from previous project and help to build recognition and support for inclusive planning across the U.S.

To learn more about the grants and to apply, download the grant application package here. (PDF)

  • Massachusetts Food Trust Program RFR Now Open

The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) seeks proposals to establish a financing infrastructure that increases access to healthy, affordable food options, with a preference for fresh locally sourced Massachusetts grown, caught or harvested healthy food and to improve economic opportunities for nutritionally underserved communities in urban, rural and suburban localities.

The overall goal of the Massachusetts Food Trust Program (“MFTP”) is to increase access to healthy, affordable food as a means to improve health outcomes and to encourage innovation in healthy food retailing and distribution in nutritionally underserved communities.  The MFTP will provide funding to a Community Development Financial Institution (“CDFI”) who will invest or award funding to sub- recipients to support healthy food initiatives in underserved communities.  This statewide program is designed to meet the financing needs of healthy food retailers and distributors that plan to operate in underserved communities where costs and credit needs cannot be filled solely by conventional financing institutions.

Responses must be received by 2:00 PM, Wednesday, May 2, 2018.

COMMBUYS link: www.commbuys.com/bso/external/bidDetail.sdo?bidId=BD-18-1002-1003-001-25427&parentUrl=activeBids

  • AARP Community Challenge Grant

The AARP Community Challenge funds projects that build momentum for local change to improve livability for all residents. In 2017, the AARP Community Challenge awarded 88 grants nationwide.

2018 TIMELINE

  • March 21: Launch of the 2018 AARP Community Challenge
  • May 16: Applications are due by 5 pm ET
  • June 25: Winning applicants will be notified by email by this date
  • November 5: All projects must be completed
  • December 3: After Action Reports due 

AARP recommends that potential applicants first watch this short video, read all of the information noted below and download the following PDF attachments, especially the application questionnaire, which is provided so you can prepare your answers offline and then copy and paste your text into our web-based application.